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Veteran insider set to head Hong Kong’s finance industry advisory body

Laurence Li Lu-jen set to succeed Laura Cha at Financial Services Development Council, and wants to see the body push innovation and investor protection

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Laurence Li Lu-jen is tipped to be the next head of Hong Kong’s Financial Services Development Council. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Enoch Yiu
Barrister Laurence Li Lu-jen is the front runner to head Hong Kong’s Financial Services Development Council, according to two people familiar with the situation, succeeding Laura Cha Shih May-lung, who recently became first woman to head the stock market operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing.
The FSDC was set up by Hong Kong’s former chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, as an advisory body to conduct research into improving the competitiveness of the city’s financial market and promoting it in international financial circles.

Li, 47 and a finance and banking specialist, had joined Cha to help establish the FSDC in 2013 and is currently the convenor of its research committee. He has also worked at the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the market regulator.

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“Li was the one who helped Cha to set up the council. He is the most suitable candidate for the post,” one of the sources told the South China Morning Post.

Li declined to comment on any appointment.

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“Whoever would become the chairman of FSDC, he or she would need to promote fintech and innovation in Hong Kong. The FSDC would also need to propose more measures to enhance investor protection,” Li said.

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